Guwahati, Nov.27 (ANI): Following the ongoing counter-insurgency operation the militants have stepped up atrocities in Assam.

In the latest incident, twin blasts rocked the Nalbari district of Assam on Sunday (Nov.22) leaving eight persons dead and over 60 injured.

Earlier, 12 oil tankers of a goods train were set ablaze by militants near Moriani.

The blasts occurred in a gap of 40 minutes and rocked Nalbari, 70 kilometres from Guwahati on Sunday (Nov.22).

Chaos prevailed in the Nalbari Civil Hospital, where the injured and the dead were rushed after the incident. The seriously injured were referred to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

Suspected ULFA militants triggered Sunday's blasts in Nalbari.

"Those, who kill innocent people and torture people every now and then, are the culprits and they need to be punished throughout their life.............we want that there should be talks... those who are doing this, and why they are doing this, has to be found.... the government should hold talks and ensure peace," said Narendra Goswami, one of injured victims.

The authorities suspect the involvement of ULFA, but the outfit denied responsibility for the blasts.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who was recently in the national capital, condemned the twin blasts and said people responsible for it would be apprehended and dealt with firmly. He said that ULFA was behind the attacks.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram recently informed the Rajya Sabha, the upper House of Parliament, that the Centre had prior inputs about the ULFA planning new strikes in Assam.

The Minister said the ULFA 'is in disarray' owing to intense pressure by security forces on the militants.

"Owing to the counter-insurgency operation, ULFA has come under tremendous pressure. Its leadership 'is in disarray'. Key ULFA leaders are in prison. Recently two ULFA leaders surrender to the Indian security forces. There ULFA leaders are believed to be abroad and there are reports of serious differences among them. In this background it is our assessment that the recent incidents manifest the desperation of the banned organization - ULFA," said P.Chidambaram recently.

In Assam, up to Nov. 15 this year, 1,196 militants have been neutralized 'by way of arrests or surrender or they have been killed.

At least 282 kilogram of explosives and 630 weapons have been seized from militants till Nov 22.

Mindless violence like the blasts in Nalbari has once again shown the desperation of the militant outfits and the least concern for innocent lives. (ANI)